U.S. factory-built housing component shipments to grow more than 5 percent through 2006

Shipments of factory-built housing components from U.S. manufacturers are forecast to rise 5.2 percent per annum to $16.6 billion in 2006, reported from a study by the Freedonia Group Inc. Advances in component demand will be bolstered by increased utilization of components on a per structure basis. Increased component penetration will in turn be supported by the advantages in cost, construction cycle time and product quality offered by the components relative to site-built construction methods. Gains in component use will be particularly strong for walls and partitions and I-joists. Growth in the factory-built component market will also be driven by an anticipated recovery in the manufactured housing market, a major end use for components ...